JoJo Natson returns to NFL and a big role with Rams after weekend as spectator

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The Rams re-signed wide receiver/kick returner JoJo Natson on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 after learning that Pharoh Cooper will miss several weeks with an ankle injury. Natson, seen here in action during an August preseason game was released by the team during roster cutdowns. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

THOUSAND OAKS – JoJo Natson sat home in Florida and, like millions of others, watched the first weekend of NFL games. Now, his spot on the couch is up for grabs.

The Rams signed Natson to a contract Wednesday, shortly after they learned that All-Pro kick returner Pharoh Cooper will undergo ankle surgery. Natson, a receiver, will take over kickoff- and punt-return duties for the Rams this week, without much time to prepare for Sunday’s game against Arizona at the Coliseum.

“I didn’t expect for the turnaround to be this quick, at all,” Natson said after Wednesday’s walk-through practice at Cal Lutheran. “I’m just thankful that the opportunity came around again.”

So the Rams turned back to Natson, who was on their 90-man roster throughout training camp and the preseason but got cut when the team trimmed its roster to 53 players for the start of the regular season. Natson served as the Rams’ primary returner in preseason games, when they rested Cooper.

Natson, 24, played seven games for the New York Jets last season, after they promoted him from the practice squad in November. Natson averaged 20.3 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 2.4 yards on 16 punt returns for the Jets and had one fumble (on a punt). The Jets waived Natson in April.

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Speed is Natson’s primary skill. He is listed at 5-foot-7 (“5-8 on a good day,” he joked) and 153 pounds, which will draw comparison to former Rams returner Tavon Austin, although Natson might be quicker.

“It’s light, man, but you can’t hit what you can’t catch,” Natson said. “I feel like I bring a bit of excitement with my quickness, my speed.”

Cooper’s loss is significant. Last season, he averaged 12.5 yards per punt return, second-best in the NFL, and averaged 27.4 yards per kickoff return, fourth-best among players with at least 10 returns. Cooper also had a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last season against Jacksonville.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2016, Cooper never really broke into the receiver rotation but carved out a strong role as a returner and was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.

“What a great competitor, tough guy,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “It’s unfortunate, but I think if there’s anybody who is going to respond the right way, and do what he can do to come back sooner than later, it’s going to be Pharoh.”

The Rams didn’t have any legitimate ways to replace Cooper without a transaction.

Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Sam Shields are the only players on the Rams’ main roster or practice squad with experience as NFL returners. Cooks and Woods each have one punt and one kickoff return, and zero since 2014, and Shields was a kickoff returner as a rookie with Green Bay in 2010.

A few other players, such as Nickell Robey-Coleman, Lamarcus Joyner, Justin Davis, Todd Gurley, Steven Mitchell, Blake Countess and Troy Hill, returned kicks in college, but that’s not the same, and given that the Rams have only two practices between games, now is not the time to get reacquainted with returning.

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp also had extensive college experience as a returner, but McVay said Kupp is too valuable within the offense to risk giving him a bigger special-teams role.

So, it’s time for Natson, who now arguably is the least-likely key contributor on a Super Bowl contender.

Natson went undrafted in 2017 after an intriguing but troubled college career. Natson tied the Mountain West Conference career record with four punt-return touchdowns in three seasons, but then got dismissed from the Utah State program after three off-field incidents.

Natson finished his college career at Akron. He signed with Indianapolis shortly after the 2017 draft but got waived on Sept. 2, then signed with the Jets two days later. He spent six weeks with the Rams.

“With JoJo’s experience, having fielded a lot of them in the preseason,” McVay said, “it gave (special-teams coach John Fassel) a certain confidence. You can see that he’s a fearless competitor. He did a good job with ball security and understanding how to set up the returns and things like that. That’s a unit that we want to be able to capitalize and maximize and try to get some good field position.”

DAY OF REST

The Rams, mindful of recovering from their Monday night game, decided not to hold a full practice Wednesday, but will have their normal sessions on Thursday and Friday.

“I think these guys appreciate and understand how to get work in, even though we’re not pushing them physically,” McVay said.

Even though the Rams didn’t practice, they were required to produce an injury report for the walk-through. Gurley did not participate because of a non-injury issue, nor did linebacker Mark Barron (Achilles) and receiver Mike Thomas (groin), who had been Cooper’s backup as a returner.

Rich Hammond was a high school senior when the Rams left town in 1995, and now he's their beat writer for the Southern California News Group. A native of L.A., Rich broke in at the Daily Breeze as a college freshman and also has covered USC, the Kings, the Lakers and the Dodgers. He still loves sports and telling stories. Don't take the sarcastic tweets too seriously.